Well here we go, my first blog. This is more exciting than when I discovered Dibby Dibby Dip (its a korean game using your full body similiar to rock, paper, scissors).

I've been living in Seoul now for 14 months or so. It isn't the best place I've been but it's treating me well for the time being.

Things I love about living here:

Alcoholism. I can drink beer anywhere at anytime. The clubs close when the last people leave. There are never line ups to get into any bar. Drunk businessmen are seen all over day and night, vomiting in front of ATM's, sleeping on the subway with their shoe as a pillow.

Fan death. Koreans believe that if you sleep in a room with the windows and doors shut and a single fan, it will kill you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death

Line Control. There is none. You can be in the middle of purchasing a train ticket and someone will walk right up and amazingly get served before you. However this system rocks when you have a person fiddling for money and you are already late. When I last visited Canada I found myself constantly cutting in line without even realizing it.

Swim caps. Must be worn at all times in all pools. This is really annoying and seems to accompany a required matching speedo.

The X. This is used a sign of "NO". It is performed with both arms forming an X with both forearms touching to make the centre of an X. It is used by everybody: taxi drivers, bank employees, Mcdonald's workers, and ploicemen. I have adopted this and prefer it over speech in all cases when it can be used.

Koreans. Some of the most interesting folk around. Typically conservative and closed minded, however extremely hospitable and generous once they know you. Confusianism ranks high in importance. So if I don't know you and I bump into you I won't say sorry. If I do know you and I bump into you I will apologize excessively and get you really drunk. From there we would cut in line to get a subway ticket, stop off and replace our swim caps, go to a singing room and then another bar giving the X to our wives telling us to stop drinking more soju. Finally we'd fall asleep with our shoe pillow on the sidewalk. We'd wake up and go to work. Damn, its Tuesday morning.

Korea and Koreans have been great to me so in no way am I trying to offend them or their culture. I could pick through just as many humurous bits in Canadian culture. On the surface our cultures seem quite similiar, full of bustling consumerism and moderness. After coming here from Cambodia and Laos I felt like I stepped into the future, or as if I was back home. Paved roads and escalators seemed like marvels. But now after living here and adapting its the mindset of koreans where I notice the largest cultural gap. They simply just think differently. They are pragmatic and focused. Some may call this narrow-minded. We are open-minded and scattered. Some may call us scatterbrains. Either way both societies are functioning quite well and desrve accolades for their succeses. Korea emerged from post war poverty to the 11th largest economy in 50 years. Quite remarkable.

That'll do er for now. I'll try and add links and all that jazz when my computer friend teaches me all about how to make an awesome blog. Thanks JD!

peeeeeeeace